Act 2 Part 2 responses

1    What is Willy’s dream? What is he searching for throughout the play? Why doesn’t he find it? Did he ever have a chance of fulfilling it? Biff says of Willy: “He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong” (111). Do you agree? Does Willy have the wrong dreams? Inappropriate attitudes? Is he a born loser or a tragic hero who stands in his own way to success?

a.    “I did a terrible thing today…it’s been the strangest day I ever went through” (Williams 80). “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been. We’ve been talking in a dream for fifteen years” (81). “He’s got to understand that I’m not the man somebody lends that kind of money too” (81). “[going to WILLY with guilt, as to an invalid]” (82). “I don’t know who said it first, but I was never a salesman for Bill Oliver” (83). Personally, this scene is one of the most intense scenes in this play. I can feel Willy’s anxiety over Biff’s appointment. First of all, Willy doesn't even let Biff explain anything to him as Biff claims, ““Dad, you’re not letting me tell you what I want to tell you!” (85). All of the ellipses also shows that the conversation is interrupted by each other. Willy wants to only hear good news. On the other hand, Biff wants to tell Willy the harsh truth. At the same time, Happy is trying to be on Willy’s side.


      Willy reminds me of a prisoner who wants to be set free. Willy wants to escape the reality and be set free. However, just as he is about to break out of the cell, he is caught. The interesting thing is, it was just a few days before he complete his duty. As Linda claims "I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear" (112). Willy was just about to be set free. At least he died as a freeman. Whether he is a born loser or a tragic hero, he stands in his own way to success. He stays firm until the very end, which shows his consistency and it's sad because it never becomes true. It is almost like the prisoner who always dream of breaking free and he gets caught on day of his free day.  

2    Why does Miller combine scenes from the past and Willy’s hallucinations alongside the current action of the play in the present? How does this movement between past/present/ and Willy’s imaginings add to the dramatic effect of the play?

a.    “Math, math, math!” (85). Is it just me that this repetition reminded me of King Lear’s famous “Howl, Howl, Howl” (Shakespeare). “[furiously]: If you hadn’t flunked you’d’ve been set by now!” (85). “No, you’re no good, you’re no good for anything” (87). This father figure reminds me of a conservative tradition where family members enforce an unfair kind of pressure on the child’s future. I saw them especially in Asian cultures, but since this is set right after the World War II, the traditional custom still remains. Willy’s hallucination and going back and forth from the past and present shows Willy’s insanity. Willy cannot accept the reality that Biff cannot “have lunch tomorrow” with Oliver (88). Biff insists that “a team of horses couldn't have dragged me back to Bill Oliver” (88). However, Willy claims “You don’t want to be anything, is that what’s behind it?” (88). Biff is “[angry at WILLY for not crediting his sympathy]” (88). “You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?” (88). Very intense scene between a father and son. The original title of this play is called The Inside of His Head. This shows that this play is 

3     What do you notice about the use of music, sound effects and lighting in this section of the play? Note any specific instances that struck you and discuss how these aspects were used and for what effect. How did these dramatic techniques reinforce the action and meaning of the play?

a.    “A single trumpet note jars the ear. The light of green leaves stains the house which holds the air of night and a dream” (85). I only noticed as I was watching the actual movie. The music has a huge impact on the meaning of the play. First of all, the trumpet is used to emphasize the hallucination of Willy. The jazzy trumpet sound makes the hallucination become more intense and at the same time exults a certain erotic mood in the play. This is important in this scene especially because there are so many women involved.

4     What would you say are the false values which the play reveals? What are the true values which the play upholds? Here, consider Miller’s commentary on success and failure, the business world, identity, dreams, popularity, integrity. What is one key understanding you’ve taken away from the play that relates to your own life and why?

a.     Does Miller criticize the business world? I think that is the question that needs to be cleared up in order to answer these series of questions. First of all, this play deals with integrity. Miller presents many integrity problems such as cheating, lying, and deceiving. By comparing Charley and Miller, we can see that Miller is trying to critique how Willy has lived his entire life.


      One of the most striking things in the play is that Biff is the one who actually truly cares for his father. On the other hand, Happy does not really care for him. Biff senses that “you don't give a good goddam about him” as he takes out the rolled-up hose from his pocket (90). One of the shocking lines of Happy is “No, that’s not my father. He’s just a guy” (91). I cannot believe that Happy said that. All this time, I had thought that Happy was a caring peacemaker. But in fact he only cares about himself most of the time. William shows us that the true values within each character are revealed when true hardship strikes them. 
      The essential bottom line is that all Willy and Biff want is love. Willy wants Biff to respect him and love him. Similarly, Biff wants his father to simply love him without any superficial elements such as success and popularity. 

Act I Response

Death of a Salesman Act I 

Foreshadowing Death

Act I already foreshadows the notion of death. Even from the title itself, we can see that the Salesman, Willy, is going to die. Willy comes back from work saying “I’m tired to the death” (2). This notion of “death” appears several times in the first Act from Willy.

                                                       

Willy

Willy Just from the first few pages, we know that Willy is having difficulty being sane. He talks to himself in the middle of the night, reminiscing his past. His past is so perfect for him that he cannot accept the present that is too harsh for him. He claims to his sons in his illusion that “Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more” (18). The fact that he compares his imaginative business with Uncle Charley’s business already shows his inferiority complex towards his situation right now. He is dissatisfied with his present situation.  

For Willy, his entire presence or existence is based on his career success. Now that he knows how his job does not value him as much as he thought they would, Willy finds it hard for the purpose to live. He claims that “Not finding yourself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace!” (5). He basically does not like his own son not conforming to his American dream. His definition of success is based on the career and the wealth of the family. That is why he claims that “Biff is a lazy bum!...Why did he come home?” (5).

Despite the fact that he is not satisfied with his present situation, he does resists change in his life. He shouts, “I don’t want a change! I want Swiss cheese. Why am I always being contradicted?” (6). Although Willy is responding to his wife, it sounds almost like a rhetorical question to the society. He resists change and reminisces the good old past.

Biff

From Act I, Biff seems to be the character that has the most grudge against his own father. “Everything I say there’s a twist of mockery on his face” (10). He calls his father “That selfish, stupid…” overhearing Willy’s conversation with Linda (15). This already introduces a conflict in the play - The relationship between Biff and Willy.

First of all, Willy cannot accept the reality, where Biff does not have a proper job. This is due to Willy’s definition of success. For Willy, success is defined by materialistic elements which are also connected with being popular. The thing Willy wants from Biff is not only financial success but also the notion of “well-liked” (7). That is why Willy surrounds himself with materials that represent “success” in the society. "'Cause I get so lonely-especially when business is bad and there's nobody to talk to" (25). This line ultimately shows Willy's definition of success, both financial success and popularity. These examples include refrigerators and cars. The author is trying to emphasize the theme of obsession of being perfect through Willy’s desires.

It also seems to suggest that Biff has changed significantly from the past and lost direction in life. Happy consults his brother, “Where’s the old humor, the old confidence? (10). He replies by saying “I don’t know- what I’m suppose to want” (10). These genuine conversations between the brothers suggest that Biff has changed in a negative way and seems to be lost. “I’ve always made a point of not wasting my life, and ever time I come back here I know that all I’ve done is to waste my life” (11). Even the descriptions show that “well built, but in these days bears a worn air and seems less self-assured. He has succeeded less, and his dreams are stronger and less acceptable than HAPPY’S” (8).

Linda and Happy

Linda seems to be the Laura character in the play “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. She tries to be the mediator to all the conflicts. She tries to calm Willy’s anger by “Your mind is overactive, and the mind is what counts, dear” (3). This reminds me of Laura trying to comfort Tom.

“Happy is tall, powerfully made. He, like his brother, is lost, but in a different way, for he has never allowed himself to turn his face toward defeat and is thus more confused and hard-skinned, although seemingly more content.” (8). Happy is also the supporting character in the play as he tries to mediate the conflicts between Willy and Biff.

Some things to consider...

• Definition of Success
• Symbolism of "American Dream"
• Willy=Tragic Hero?

Themes

•         Chasing the empty American dream
•        Obsession of being perfect
•        Harsh realities versus expectations

         Source of Picture : http://aismibenglish2spisso.edublogs.org/files/2011/08/death-of-a-salesman-f8eb155d2db256ed_medium-2jdj03f.jpg

         Widell, Harvey, and Arthur H. Miller. Death of Salesman,. New York: Penguin Group, 1956. Print.

Death of a Salesman Act II (Part I)

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Death of a Salesman Act II (Part I)

1. How is the audience positioned to respond to Willy’s boss, Howard Wagner? Consider how Willy is treated by the company he works for, the significance of Howard's name and the significance of the scene where Howard is playing with a recorder while Willy is trying to talk to him. What do we learn about Howard's family life through the voices heard from the recorder? Why does Miller include this scene?

I felt so much sympathy towards Willy when he is meeting Howard. First of all, we know that Howard is so much younger than Willy as Willy was, “with the firm when your father used to carry you in here in his arms” (Millar 59). We have to know that Willy is an old man simply trying to protect his pride. He has to let his pride down in order to stick to his job. He initially asks for 65 dollars a week but eventually puts the value down to 40 dollars. It was really sad and audiences are positioned to sympathize Willy’s degradation.

The recorder is a symbol used in the play to emphasize the materialistic elements. Willy does not know what to do with the recorder when he accidently presses the wrong button and “[leaping away with fright, shouting] (62). We can imagine Willy, an old man, struggling with modern machines and it strikes our hearts. Howard’s family also reemphasizes the notion that Howard’s young and can support her family. We can simply compare Howard and Willy.

I couldn’t stand Howard’s arrogant position. When Willy appears, “HOWARD is intent on threading the machine and only glances over his shoulder as WILLY appears” (56). This stage direction shows the attitude of the boss. He keeps interrupting Willy. “Like to ask a little favor if you…” (57). “Sh, for God’s sake!” (58). He absolutely has no respect for the elder. Even though he has a higher position in the office, he should still respect the old fellow.

The stage directions help to further emphasize the position difference between Willy and Harold. “[He draws a chair in from the swing]” which suggests that Willy is sitting down as opposed to Howard is standing up (59). This line personally struck me the most in this interaction. “thirty-four years into this firm…I can’t pay my insurance…a man is not a fruit!” (61). The depiction of Howard is a representative of typical stereotypical American firms. They treat them like objects without any feelings. I’ve heard since I was a kid that in the States, people just get fired like it is a daily business. As Willy suggests, the “peel” is thrown away.

Howard’s attitude still remains cold and rude despite the fact that Willy completely let down his man pride. “But where am I going to put you, kid” (60). Howard calls him a “kid” to an old man. The audiences might increase antipathy towards Howard which further helps us to deeply sympathize with Willy. Howard is “[barely interested]” (60). How RUDE! I can feel Willy’s “false pride” tearing apart (63). 

Willy seems to still value materialistic elements. When Linda talks about the “payment on the refrigerator…”, Willy complains about the matter (53). He claims that, “we should’ve bought a well-advertised machine. Charley bought a General Electric” (53). He compares himself with Charley as he was jealous all his life. Willy cautions his wife, “Will you stop mending stockings? At least while I’m in the house” (55). This also shows that Willy is ashamed of frugality. He does not allow his wife to mend stocking which he perceives as a shameful act. 

Also, in this moment, the author presents us with a false sense of hope. “I will never get behind a wheel the rest of my life!” (55). Linda claims “It’s changing, Willy, I can feel it changing!” (55). But we already know that this play is not going to end with a happy ending. From the title, we are pretty sure of the fact that Willy is going to die and through various foreshadowing. There are numerous parts in this part of the play where death is foreshadowed. In the beginning of Act II, Willy claims that he “slept like a dead one” (52). When he also mentions the legendary salesman's funeral to Howard, he notes “death of a salesman” which is the title itself (61). He also claims that “you end up worth more dead than alive” (76). 

It is clear that Willy is caught in an illusion of the American Dream. When he is about to get fired from his work, Willy cries, “Ben, nothing is working out. I don't know what to do” (64). He asks for advice to Ben, who to Willy is a successful man in his perspective. We can see the false illusion of American Dream in other places too. Willy claims that “the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked!” (66). This ultimately shows his misconception of success.

2. Explain the difference in Charley and Bernard, and Willy and Biff’s worldviews. How has each father and son pair approached life? How do the different approaches account for where they have now ended up? How does Miller use the pairing of these foil characters to develop his ideas about dreams and success in the play?

By comparing Charley and Willy, we can get many insight to the themes of reality in this play. First of all, Willy cannot accept the reality that sports are not important in the business world. In the beginning, in his memory, he claimed to his sons that they will be "ahead" of Bernard because they are "well liked". That is why he cannot accept Bernard's success and hides the truth to him. Willy lies to Bernard that “he’s been doing very big things in the West” even though in reality, Biff is lost (70).

Willy starts to admit that his way of teaching was wrong.“His life ended after that Ebbets Field game. From the age of seventeen nothing good ever happened to him” (71). 

I can feel Willy's pride. Although he let his pride down to Howard, who is so much younger than him, he cannot let his pride to Charley. It is his last pride. Although Charley offers a job to Willy, he denies it due to the pride issue. Charley questions Willy, “when the hell are you going to grow up?” (75). Willy cannot let down his pride. I can understand, he is an old man in the early 1900s. One cannot simply let his pride down like that.

Willy's approach to his sons were completely different from Charley's approach. Willy confronts Charley that “You never took any interest in him” (74). Charley simply relies that “My salvation is that I never took any interest in anything” (74). What seemed to be important to Willy is in actuality not that important to the real world.

3. What is the significance of the name of the restaurant "Frank's Chop House"? Consider the fact that Willy's old boss (Howard's father) was also named Frank. What promises did Frank make to Willy? How is the name related to Charley's description of the famous American financier J. P. Morgan as looking like a "butcher"? What businesses and companies is the name of J. P. Morgan associated with in American economic history? What is the overall significance of the meat, chopping, and butchering imagery and its relations to business and businessmen? What do you think Miller is saying here?

Frank's Chop House. The connection between the butcher and the business world is that they  are both cut throat. The butcher doesn't feel pity for the animals. At the same time, Howard does not really care about Willy. Willy is like an animal begging for mercy for not butchering him. However, the butcher cannot have mercy because its business. If you can't make money you are literary chopped (fired).

Willy's name is deliberate. Williams named Willy's last name Loman. The name Loman suggests the low man as he constantly dilutes himself about his own success. His whole life is fabricated on lies. Theres no element of truth. We see Willy almost getting there, but not the complete end. 

4. What is the nature of the relations between business and sports depicted in this Act? What is Willy's attitude toward sports? What is the significance of the Ebbets Field game and subsequent events? What about the conversation which Willy has with Charley before the game? What does Charley think of sports? Why is this significant?

Willy ties the relationship between sports and business. 

5. Find at least three quotations which are examples of foreshadowing in this section of the play and explain the significance of each.

“I slept like a dead one” (52).

“death of a salesman” suggests his death (61). 

Widell, Harvey, and Arthur H. Miller. Death of Salesman,. New York: Penguin Group, 1956. Print.